Evaluative means for detecting inflammatory reactivity

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to a method for testing the susceptibility of a mammal to inflammatory diseases which comprises the steps of: 
     administering to a mammal a compound selected from the group consisting of Type 1 mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, opiate antagonists, estrogen antagonists or mixed estrogen agonists/antagonists, progesterone agonists; or a combination of an estrogen antagonist with one or a combination of a Type I glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, a Type II glucocorticoid agonist or a progesterone agonist which is effective in stimulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis; and 
     measuring the level of at least one hormone secreted by the hypothalamus, pituitary or adrenal glands of said mammal. 
     The present invention is also directed to methods of treating inflammatory diseases.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 07/412,294, filed on Sep. 25, 1989, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference; which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 07/365,735, filed on Jun. 14, 1989, now abandoned; which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 07/277,708, filed on Nov. 30, 1988, U.S. Pat. 5,006,330.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a diagnostic test for testing the susceptibility of individuals to inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis with therapeutic agents directed at the central nervous system (CNS), designed to by-pass the CNS defect.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for testing mammals for susceptibility to inflammatory diseases. In its broadest aspect, the method comprises the steps of administering to a mammal a compound which is effective in stimulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and measuring the level of hormones secreted by the pituitary and adrenal glands of the mammal. In a more specific aspect, the method comprises the steps of administering to a mammal a compound selected from the group consisting of cytokines, cell growth factors, neuroendodrine hormones such as corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), arginine vasopressin (AVP), biogenic amines, agonists of biogenic amines, antagonists of biogenic amines, analogues of biogenic amines, monoamine oxidase inhibitors and biogenic amine uptake inhibitors or glucocorticoid receptor antagonists and measuring the level of glucocorticoids or adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in the blood plasma of the mammal. The substance which is administered should not be the same as the material which is measured.

The invention is useful as a model in the study of the mammalian autoimmune diseases. Laboratory animals which may serve as a good model in studying human systems include rats, mice, guinea pigs, rabbits and chickens. However, an ultimate objective of this invention is to provide a method for diagnosing the susceptibility of humans to inflammatory diseases.

The hormones to be measured should be hormones which are secreted in increased levels by normal individuals when the compound is administered to the individual but which are not secreted in such high levels after administration of the compound in individuals having an inflammatory disease or susceptibility to an inflammatory disease. Hormones secreted by the pituitary and adrenal glands which can be measured include glucocorticoids such as corticosterone, cortisol, and ACTH. Other hormones which can be measured include CRH, prolactin, arginine vasopressin (AVP), growth hormone (GH), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), and endorphins/enkephalins.

The compound which is used in the test is preferably administered intravenously (i.v.), however, other modes of administration such as subcutaneously (s.c.) or orally (p.o.) may be used. The compound is administered together with a suitable non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable carrier in an amount sufficient to stimulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. The compound should be administered at a time when the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is quiescent, i.e., in humans at 8 p.m.; although it could be administered between 8 a.m.-10 a.m., for example, when giving compounds such as AVP. When an immune/inflammatory mediator such as interleukin-1 is used, the immune inflammatory mediator would probably be administered in a dose of 0.1 μg/kg to 10 μg/kg of body weight, preferably 1 μg/kg to 5 μg/kg of body weight. When CRH is used, 1 μg ovine CRH per kg body weight is administered i.v. When AVP is used, 0.01 to 2.0 mIU/kg/min is infused i.v. When a biogenic amine or analogue thereof such as quipazine is used, the compound would probably be administered in a dose of 0.01 to 1 mg of quipazine per kg of body weight, preferably 0.1 to 0.5 mg/kg of body weight. Doses for other biogenic amines or analogues thereof should be determined on a case-by-case basis.

After administration of the compound it is necessary to wait for a time sufficient to allow the compound to raise the glucocorticoid or ACTH level in the blood plasma of the patient before testing. Generally, it is necessary to wait at least 10 minutes before testing. The glucocorticoid or ACTH level should be measured before the level returns to normal. The glucocorticoid or ACTH level may return to normal within 4 hours after administration of the compound. A preferred waiting period is 15 minutes to 2 hours after administration, more preferably 30 to 60 minutes after administration. If the hormone levels are significantly lower than (such as more than two standard deviations below) the mean established in normal individuals, then the patient has tested positive for possible susceptibility to inflammatory diseases.

The method is potentially useful for testing for inflammatory diseases including, but not limited to, arthritis, uveoretinitis, pneumonitis, encephalomyelitis, myocarditis, thyroiditis, nephritis, sialadenitis, adrenalitis, orchitis, multiple sclerosis and hepatic granulomatous diseases.

The present invention is also directed to a method of treating atypical depression, which comprises administering to a patient suffering from atypical depression, a compound which stimulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in an amount effective to stimulate said axis.

Various immune/inflammatory mediators may be used. Cytokines such as any one of the interleukins (interleukin1 (IL-1), interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-3 (IL-3), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-5 (IL-5) and interleukin6 (IL-6)), interferons (alpha interferon, beta interferon and gamma interferon) or tumor necrosis factor (TNF) may be used in the test. Other cytokines such as epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor-alpha and/or beta (TGF-alpha and/or TGF-beta) may also be used. Biogenic amines such as serotonin, norepinephrine, epinephrine, or dopamine may be used. In addition, analogs and agonists of these biogenic amines such as quipazine may also be used. Additional compounds which may be used include monoamine oxidase inhibitors such as tranylcypromine sulfate (30 mg/patient) or isocarboxazid (30 mg/patient) which increase endogenous levels of biogenic amines. Biogenic amine uptake inhibitors such as fluoxetine may also be used.

It is known that inflammatory mediators such as IL-1 cause an increase in plasma corticosterone and ACTH possibly by stimulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The present invention is based on the finding that susceptibility to arthritis and other inflammatory diseases is related to lack of HPA axis responsiveness to inflammatory mediators and other compounds.

The present invention is also potentially useful as a guide for the treatment of arthritis with agents that may bypass the HPA defect by stimulating the HPA axis centrally or at multiple levels, such as at the synovial level, i.e., synovial receptor binding. Such drugs would include the drugs listed below:

Neurotransmitters/monoamines/neuroexcitatory agents:

serotonin agonists/releasers/uptake inhibitors:

quipazine

1-metachloro-phenyl-piperazine (mCPP)

fenfluoramine

fluoxetine

adrenergic agonists/antagonists/uptake inhibitors:

idasoxan

yohimbine

methoxamine

desmethylimipramine

ritalin

cholinergic agents:

arecholine

nicotine

GABA agonists/antagonists:

BCCM-beta carboline

FG 7142 (Sandoz)

RO 15788

MAO inhibitors:

MAO A:chlorgyline

MAO B: phenylzine

isocarboxazid

tranylcypromine

Dopamine uptake inhibitors/releasers:

buproprion

amphetamine

Excitatory amino acids/neuroexcitatory agents;

glutamate

cocaine

Neurohormones:

rat/human corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH)

corticotropin (ACTH)

dexamethasone

arginine vasopressin (AVP)

thyroxin

thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)

estrogen

progesterone

testosterone

Diapid (Bissendorff, LHRH antagonist)

Type 1 Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists(63, 64):

mespirenone (Δ¹ -15β, 16β-methylene-spironolactone, ZK 94 679)

7α-methylthio analogue of mespirenone (ZK 97 894, Δ-15β, 16β-methylene-7α-methylthio analogue of spironolactone)

15β, 16β-methylene-mexrenone (ZK 91 587)

1α, 2α: 15α, 16α-dimethylene-spironolactone

15α, 16α-methylene-spironolactone

1α, 2α: 15β, 16β-dimethylene-spironolactone

Δ¹ -15α, 16β-methylene-spironolactone spironolactone

7α-alkyl spironolactones

7α-alkyl steroidal 17-spirosultines

RU 26 107 and derivatives of RU 26 107

7α-propyl spironolactones such as

RU 26752 and its corresponding K salt- RU 28 318

RU 29705 and corresponding K salt RU 29706

Opiate Antagonists:

naloxone

naltrexone

Estrogen antagonists, mixed estrogen agonists/ antagonists, progesterone agonists:

tamoxifen and related triphenylethylene derivatives of tamoxixen having the formula: ##STR1## R¹ =OH, OAc, OCH₃, OCH ₂ CH₂ N(CH₃)₂, or OCH₂ CH₂ NCS

R² =H, OH, OCH₃, or OAc as described in D. W. Robertson and J. A. Katzenellebogen, J. Org. Chem., 47, 2387-2393 (1982); M. Schneider, J. Med. Chem., 29, 1494-1498 (1986).

phytoestrogens, such as coumestrol and related

compounds having the formulae: ##STR2## as described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,890,116 and Kappe,

Brandner, Z. Naturforsch, 29B, 292 (1974), and

Walz, Ann., 489, 118 (1931).

progesterone agonists

norethindrone acetate

hydroxyprogesterone caproate

norgestrel

medroxyprogesterone acetate

levonorgestrel

norethynodrel

norethindrone

megestrol acetate

ethynodiol diacetate

Combination Therapy

Since the mixed Type II glucocorticoid receptor/progesterone receptor antagonist RU 486 is potent in inducing inflammatory disease susceptibility to streptococcal cell walls in the F344/N rat, the present invention also includes a treatment regimen for rheumatoid arthritis which includes a combination of an estrogen antagonist with one or more of the following:

a Type I glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, such

as mespirenone

a Type II glucocorticoid agonist, such as prednisone and hydrocortisone, and

a progesterone agonist

It may also provide a guide for determination of dosage and timing schedule of replacement steroids or other HPA axis hormones such as CRH or ACTH.

The above noted agents have been selected for possible treatment of inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis because they represent a variety of classes of neuroactive agents which would be expected to activate the CRH and/or related arousal systems on a long-term basis (i.e., without inducing tolerance). Such an effect would correct the putative pathophysiological defect in rheumatoid arthritis and, hence, significantly ameloriate inflammatory and/or affective symptoms associated with this illness. Of the above-mentioned compounds, it is expected that 1-metachloro-phenyl-piperazine (mCPP) (an antidepressant), fluoxetine (an antidepressant), idasoxan (an antidepressant), nicotine, FG 7142 (Sandoz), MAO A:chlorgyline (an antidepressant), and MAO B:phenylzine (an antidepressant) are expected to be preferred compounds for further study. These compounds will probably be administered in the same manner as recommended for their already known indications such as antidepressants. Specifically, these compounds should be administered in an amount effective to stimulate the HPA axis which would bypass the defect in the HPA axis. It is also expected that analogues and/or derivatives of the above compounds may be useful.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. Severity of arthritis post-streptococcal cell wall (SCW) injection in euthymic versus athymic LEW and F344 rats. Severity of arthritis was quantitated by articular index (maximum of 16) for up to 42 days following a single p. SCW injection. Data represent the mean±S.E.M. for 5 rats per experimental group.

FIG. 2A through 2D. Plasma corticosterone levels induced by SCW, IL-1 alpha, or quipazine in inbred F344/N and LEW/N rats, and in outbred HSD rats. Rats of each strain were injected i.p. with one mediator, as shown: SCW, (2 mg cell wall rhamnose), 1 μgm recombinant IL-1 alpha, 1 mg quipazine or PBS control. Corticosterone was determined in plasma collected 60 minutes post-injection. Horizontal lines represent means of each group.

FIG. 3A through 3F. Time course of plasma ACTH and corticosterone responses to SCW, (panels A and B); human recombinant IL-1 alpha (IL-1) (panels C and D); or quipazine (QUIP) (panels E and F) in F344/N (-o-) versus LEW/N (-o-) rats. Plasma ACTH and corticosterone were quantitated by radioimmunoassay at various time points up to 4 hours following i.p. injection of each agent shown. Data shown are mean±S.E.M. of a minimum of 5 animals per experimental group.

FIG. 4A through 4F. Dose responses of plasma ACTH and corticosterone responses to SCW (panels A and B); human recombinant IL-1 alpha (IL-1) (panels C and D); or quipazine (QUIP) (panels E and F) in F344/N (-o-) versus LEW/N (-o-) rats. Various doses of mediators shown were injected i.p. and plasma ACTH and corticosterone were quantitated by radioimmunoassay 60 minutes post-injection. Data shown are mean±S.E.M. of a minimum of 5 animals per group.

FIG. 5A through 5B. Dose response of plasma ACTH and corticosterone to various concentrations of human CRH. CRH was injected i.p., and plasma ACTH and corticosterone were measured by radioimmunoassay 60 minutes post injection. Data are mean±S.E.M. of a minimum of 5 animals per experimental group.

FIG. 6A through 6D. CRH (A) and enkephalin (B) transcript levels in the parvocellular neurons of the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) were increased by SCW administration in F344/N rats (o) but not in LEW/N rats (o). CRH (C) and enkephalin (D) transcript levels in the PVN were not increased by rIL-1 alpha administration in F344/N (o) or LEW/N (o) rats. F344/N and LEW/N rats were injected intraperitoneally with 2 mg cell wall rhamnose/100gm rat, or rIL-1 alpha, 1μgm/100gm rat, and were sacrificed 0, 2, 4, and 7 hours later. In situ hybridization and determination of the number of copies of probe hybridized per section per PVN were performed as previously described (6, 7). CRH mRNA levels were clearly increased at 4 and 7 hours post-SCW injection in the F344/N rats, both in comparison with baseline and LEW/N levels (e.g., two-tailed T test, p<0,001 at 7 hours between strains). Although enkephalin mRNA levels rose above baseline in both strains in response to SCW administration, the F344/N response was greater than the LEW/N response (p<0.05). A minimum of 6 rats were used for each experimental condition, except the 2 hour time point, for which 4 rats were used. Bars represent S.E.M.

FIG. 7A through 7B. Total hypothalamic immunoreactive CRH (iCRH) content in F344/N (A) and LEW/N (B) rats, measured 4 hours after intraperitoneal injection of various agents. F344/N (A) or LEW/N (B) rats were either untreated or were injected intraperitoneally with PBS, rIL-1 alpha, (1μgm per rat), or SCW (2 mg cell wall rhamnose per rat), and iCRH hypothalamic content was quantitated by radioimmunoassay (10). A minimum of 10 rats per experimental condition was used. Statistical significance was determined by one-way ANOVA followed by Duncan's multiple range test. There was no significant difference between untreated and PBS-treated F344/N rats, nor between any treatment group of LEW/N rats by either criterion. Both rIL-1 alpha and SCW-treated F344/N hypothalami contained significantly more CRH than PBS or untreated F344/N hypothalami, and than treated or untreated LEW/N hypothalami (* =ANOVA p<0.0001, Duncan's multiple range p<0.05). Baseline levels of CRH in LEW/N hypothalami were not significantly different from baseline CRH levels in F344/N hypothalami by Duncan's multiple range test.

FIG. 8. Hypothalamic iCRH secretion from F344/N (o) versus LEW/N (o) rats stimulated in vitro with recombinant IL-1 alpha. Hypothalami from LEW/N or F344/N rats were stimulated for 20 minute periods in vitro with control medium or with rIL-1 alpha, at concentrations ranging from 10⁻¹³ M to 10⁻⁶ M. iCRH in the culture medium was quantitated by radioimmunoassay (11). Hypothalami from F344/N rats showed an increase of 150% over baseline iCRH secretion, compared to a 10% increase over baseline by LEW/N hypothalami (* =p<0,001). Statistical significance was determined by Duncan's multiple range test. A minimum of 7 rats per experimental condition was used.

These data indicate that pharmacologic interruption of the major inhibitory pathway of CRH regulation, glucocorticoid negative control via an antagonist to the Type 1 mineralocorticoid receptor, is associated with suppression of the inflammatory response in these otherwise highly inflammatory disease susceptible rats. This suggests that interruption of Type 1 glucocorticoid feedback mechanisms may represent a useful means for treating inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, in humans. (63, 64)

FIG. 9A. Influence of mespirenone on carrageenan pouch concentration of white blood cells (WBC counts per ml). Lewis rats were treated subcutaneously for 8 weeks with either mespirenone, administered in emulphor vehicle, at 3 mg/Kg, or vehicle control (emulphor). At the end of the treatment period, both groups of rats were challenged with carrageenan subcutaneously in an air pouch (67). Briefly, rats were slightly anaesthetized with CO₂. The skin of the dorsal surface of neck was shaved and cleaned with alcohol, and twelve milliliters (mL) of sterile air was subcutaneously injected to produce a well defined cavity. 24 hours later, 4 mL of 2% carrageenan (Sigma) was injected into the cavity that has already been formed (2% carrageenan, made up in sterile 0.9% NaCl). Rats were killed 24 hours later, and the carrageenan induced inflammatory exudate was aspirated from the pouch through a small incision. The volumes, white blood cell counts and differential were then analyzed. Data are presented as WBC (10³ /ml)±standard error of the mean (S.E.). Solid bar represents rats treated chronically with emulphor; hatched bar represents rats treated with mespirenone.

FIG. 9B. Influence of mespirenone on carrageenan pouch total white blood cell counts. Rats were treated as described above, but two additional groups were included, one chronically treated with mespirenone, and the other chronically treated with emulphor. At the termination of the study, these two additional groups were challenged with saline in the air pouches rather than carrageenan (L/SAL (+)=mespirenone treated group; L/SAL (-)=emulphor treated group). Rats chronically treated with mespirenone, and challenged with carrageenan =L/CAR (+); rats chronically treated with emulphor and challenged with carrageenan =L/CAR (-). Results are expressed as mean total white blood cell count in exudates ×10⁴.

FIG. 10. Influence of mespirenone on CRH content in LEW/N rats after carrageenan challenge. Rats were treated as described in FIGS. 9A and 9B, and CRH content was measured in the median eminence. L/SAL (+)=mespirenone treated group, challenged with saline in air pouches; L/SAL (-) =emulphor treated group, challenged with saline in air pouches; rats chronically treated with mespirenone, and challenged with carrageenan =L/CAR (+); rats chronically treated with emulphor and challenged with carrageenan =L/CAR (-). Data are expressed as mean ng CRH.

FIG. 11A. Effect of Tamoxifen on total leukocyte count in carrageenan pouch. Lewis rats were treated subcutaneously for 3 weeks with either Tamoxifen, administered in emulphor vehicle, at 1 mg/Kg, or vehicle control (emulphor). At the end of the treatment period, both groups of rats were challenged with carrageenan subcutaneously in an air pouch (5), as described above (FIGS. 9A and 9B). Results are expressed as the mean of the total leukocytosis (total white blood cell count) mean ±standard error of the mean (S.E.M.).

FIG. 11B. Effect of Tamoxifen on leukocyte concentrations (WBC/ml) in carrageenan pouch. Lewis rats were treated subcutaneously for 3 weeks with either Tamoxifen, administered in emulphor vehicle, at 1 mg/Kg, or vehicle control (emulphor). At the end of the treatment period, both groups of rats were challenged with carrageenan subcutaneously in an air pouch (5), as described above (FIGS. 9A and 9B). Results are expressed as the mean of the white blood cell count (WBC) ×10^(4/) ml±standard error of the mean (S.E.M.). Statistical significance was determined using the Scheffe's super ANOVA. *=significant (p<0.0015).

FIG. 11C. Effect of Tamoxifen on volume of exudate (ml) in carrageenan pouch. Lewis rats were treated subcutaneously for 3 weeks with either Tamoxifen, administered in emulphor vehicle, at 1 mg/Kg, or vehicle control (emulphor). At the end of the treatment period, both groups of rats were challenged with carrageenan subcutaneously in an air pouch (5), as described above (FIGS. 9A and 9B). Results are expressed as the mean volume (ml)±standard error of the mean (S.E.M.). Statistical significance was determined using the Scheffe's super ANOVA..=significant (p<0.03).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A single intraperitoneal injection of an aqueous suspension of Group A Streptococcal cell wall fragments (peptidoglycan-group specific polysaccharide) into LEW/N female rats induces severe, rapid onset, acute thymic-independent arthritis, followed by a chronic proliferative and erosive thymic-dependent arthritis. However, histocompatible F344/N female rats, along with several other histocompatible strains, develop only minimal, transient swelling of the hind paws (1, 2). Strain dependent differences in response to the cell walls are also noted in the degree of splenic hypertrophy, blood leukocytosis, and the development of hepatic granulomata. The development of severe inflammatory pathology in the LEW/N rat is not related to differences in the quantities, the sites of localization, or the duration of persistence of the cell wall fragments. In both LEW/N and F344/N rats, the cell walls localize to the spleen, liver, bone marrow and synovial blood vessels of the peripheral joints (1, 3, 4). LEW/N rats develop a more persistent inflammatory reaction at the sites of cell wall localization than do F344/N rats (5). In vitro analyses of various mononuclear cell responses to cell walls have not provided fundamental insights into the mechanisms underlying the marked susceptibility to streptococcal cell wall-induced disease in the LEW/N rats and resistance in F344/N rats, although small differences between strains have been noted (6-8, and Wilder et al, unpublished data).

Histologically, the earliest changes in the acute phase arthritis in LEW/N rats are synovial microvascular injury associated with increased endothelial cell Ia expression. This is rapidly followed by infiltration of Ia positive macrophages in the synovium (1). At all time points F344/N rats exhibit little or no inflammation compared to LEW/N rats. This difference in the degree of synovial macrophage and endothelial cell Ia expression, that parallels the development of arthritis, is the most striking immunohistological difference between the two strains. This difference is even observed in athymic LEW.rnu/rnu and F344.rnu/rnu rats. This suggests that there may be a factor or factors regulating both Ia expression and the acute thymic-independent phase of SCW arthritis, and that the difference in arthritis susceptibility between the two strains may be related to the presence of a down-regulator of Ia operative soon after injection of SCW in F344/N but not in LEW/N rats.

Corticosteroids are both potent endogenous downregulators of Ia expression, and potent endogenous immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory agents (9-13). Corticosterone is released early in the course of inflammation through stimulation of the HPA axis by inflammatory mediators such as endotoxin and interleukin-1 (IL-1) (14-23). Since SCW activate macrophages and stimulate release of IL-1, and are chemically related to endotoxin (bacterial lipopolysaccharide, LPS) (24), and since IL-1 is critical in maintaining the normal feedback loop between the immune system and the central nervous system (CNS) (11-23, 25-26), the early ACTH and corticosterone responses to SCW and IL-1 alpha in inbred F344/N and LEW/N rats and outbred HSD rats were compared. Since serotonin (5-HT) is also released from platelets during inflammation, and down-regulates Ia expression (27, 28), and since 5-HT pathways represent another route of hypothalamic-pituitary stimulation (29-31), the effect of the serotonin agonist, quipazine, on acute ACTH and corticosterone responses in F344/N, LEW/N and HSD rats was also compared. Furthermore, to evaluate the direct involvement of glucocorticoids in the observed SCW susceptibility of LEW/N rats and SCW resistance of F344/N rats, the ability of replacement doses of glucocorticoids to suppress the SCW susceptibility of the former and the ability of a potent glucocorticoid antagonist RU 486 to reverse the SCW resistance of the latter was examined.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Animals

One hundred gram, virus antibody free, female, inbred F344/N and LEW/N rats, and outbred Harlan-Sprague-Dawley (HSD) rats, purchased from Harlan Sprague Dawley (Indianapolis, Ind.), were acclimatized to 12 hour on-12 hour off light cycles, prior to intraperitoneal injection of various inflammatory mediators.

Drugs and Inflammatory Mediators

Group A Streptococcal cell wall peptidoglycan-group specific carbohydrate (SCW) was prepared in phosphate buffered saline (PBS), as previously described (1). It was injected at a concentration of 0.02 to 2 mg of cell wall rhamnose per rat. Recombinant human interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha): IL-1 alpha (32) was a generous gift from Drs. P. Kilian and P. Lomedico, (Hoffman-La Roche, Nutley, N.J.). It was injected at doses ranging from 0.1 to 5 μgm per rat. Specific activity ranged from 3 ×10⁸ to 2.5 ×10⁹ Units/μgm. 1 unit of IL-1 activity was defined in the D10 cell bioassay, as previously described (32). Endotoxin levels in final concentrations injected were less than 0.0013 EU/100 μ1. Quipazine was purchased from Sigma Chemical Company (St. Louis, Mo.). It was injected at doses ranging from 0.1 to 5 mg per rat. Dexamethasone for cell culture was purchased from Sigma Chemical Company (St. Louis, Mo.), and used in doses ranging from 0.01 μg to 100 μgm per rat. RU 486: The glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, RU 486, (33, Philibert, D., Deraedt, R., & Teutsch, G. (1981) Proc. VIII International Congress of Pharmacology, p. 668.) was a generous gift from Roussel-UCLAF (Paris, France). It was suspended in sterile normal saline for intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection, at doses ranging from 0.03 mg to 3 mg per rat. LY53857: The serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT₂) antagonist, LY53857 (6-methyl-l-[1-methylethyl]ergoline-8-carboxylic acid, 2-hydroxy-1-methylpropyl ester [Z]-2-butenedioate) (34), was a generous gift from Dr. M. Cohen, Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Co. (Indianapolis, Ind.). Rat/human corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) was purchased from Peninsula Laboratories (Belmont, Calif.), and was used at doses ranging from 0.01 to 8 μgm per rat.

Hormone Assays

Plasma corticosterone was quantitated by radioimmunoassay (35) kit purchased from Radioassay Systems Laboratories, Inc., Immunochem Corporation (Carson, Calif.). Adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) levels were determined by radioimmunoassay, as previously described (36). Rats were injected i.p. between 10 and 11 AM, and blood was collected from 30 minutes to 4 hours post-injection, for plasma ACTH and corticosterone measurements. Inter- and intra-assay control variability for corticosterone was 1.2% and 3.4% respectively; inter- and intra-assay control variability for ACTH was 8.0% and 2.8% respectively.

Severity of Arthritis

Severity of arthritis was quantitated by articular index, performed by a single blinded observer, as previously described (2). Briefly, articular index is the sum of the severity of arthritis (scale 0-4, 4 - most severe arthritis) of each of the limbs. Maximum articular index is 16.

Data Analysis

A minimum of 5 rats per experimental group were studied, and experiments were repeated a minimum of 3 times. Data shown are mean±standard error of the mean (S.E.M.) of each group. Experimental groups were compared to vehicle treated controls and to each other, and statistical significance between groups was determined by unpaired Student t test. Total ACTH and corticosterone released were calculated by integrating the areas under the curves, using the trapezoid rule.

RESULTS Thymic-Independent and Thymic-Dependent Phases of LEW/N SCW Induced Arthritis

FIG. 1 shows the repeat of an earlier experiment (1) in which the articular index (AI) was assessed in euthymic versus athymic LEW and F344 rats injected with SCW. Five animals in each group were treated with a single intra-peritoneal dose of SCW at day 0, and observed for 6 weeks. The arthritis induced in euthymic LEW/N rats is diphasic, with a rapid-onset acute inflammatory component developing as early as 24 hours after injection of SCW, and a later chronic component developing at 3 to 6 weeks post-injection. Athymic LEW.rnu/rnu rats do not develop the late phase arthritis, but do develop the early inflammatory component and a continued low grade chronic synovitis. The early phase of SCW arthritis in LEW rats is, therefore, thymic-independent, and the late phase is thymic-dependent. The very small percentage of euthymic and athymic F344 rats that develop mild arthritis develop only the early thymic-independent component, which rapidly resolves. The presence of a strain difference in the acute, thymic-independent phase of SCW arthritis in athymic LEW.rnu/rnu versus F344.rnu/rnu rats indicates that the thymic-independent phase of the arthritis is genetically regulated, and that the regulating factor or factors are operative very early in the disease.

Corticosterone Responses to SCW, IL-1 Alpha and Quipazine in Outbred HSD Rats Versus Inbred F344/N And LEW/N Rats

Since, as discussed above, corticosterone is a potent down-regulator of Ia expression which is released early in the course of inflammation through stimulation of the HPA axis by inflammatory mediators (14-23), the early ACTH and corticosterone responses to SCW, IL-1 alpha and the serotonin (5-HT) agonist, quipazine, in inbred F344/N and LEW/N rats and outbred HSD rats were compared.

Intraperitoneal SCW, IL-1 alpha, and the serotonin (5-HT) agonist quipazine all induced marked plasma corticosterone responses in F344/N rats at one hour post i.p. injection (FIG. 2 and Table 1). In contrast, these agents induced only minimal (SCW, quipazine) or absent (IL1 alpha) plasma corticosterone responses in LEW/N rats (p<0.01). Outbred HSD rats exhibited mean corticosterone responses intermediate between the low LEW/N and high F344/N responses. Corticosterone responses of HSD rats showed a wide spread, and fell into two groups: one overlapping the low LEW/N responses, and the other overlapping the high F344/N responses.

                                      TABLE 1                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Plasma corticosterone in PBS, SCW, IL-l alpha or                               quipazine treated HSD, F344/N or LEW/N rats.                                   Plasma Corticosterone, ng/ml (mean ± S.E.M.)                                Strain PBS     SCW     IL-1 alpha                                                                             Quipazine                                       __________________________________________________________________________     HSD    162.6 ± 33.4                                                                        656.1 ± 44.6                                                                        389.4 ± 54.1                                                                        656.8 ± 46.3                                 F344/N 130.7 ± 19.7                                                                        702.8 ± 32.7                                                                        913.7 ± 90.0                                                                        721.2 ± 43.9                                 LEW/N  130.2 ± 16.2                                                                        350.2 ± 31.3                                                                        162.5 ± 41.2                                                                        397.6 ± 51.2                                 __________________________________________________________________________

Data represents mean±S.E.M. of plasma corticosterone shown in FIG. 2. Plasma corticosterone was determined by radioimmunoassay of plasma collected 60 minutes post-i.p. injection of PBS, SCW (2 mg cell wall rhamnose/rat), IL-1 alpha (1 μgm/rat) or quipazine (1 mg/rat) in HSD, F344/N or LEW/N rats.

The one hour time point of corticosterone measurement and the doses of mediators used were those found to be associated with maximal corticosterone responses in time course and dose response experiments (FIGS. 3 and 4).

Time Course Kinetics of Plasma ACTH and Corticosterone Responses to SCW, IL-1 Alpha and Quipazine in LEW/N Versus F344/N Rats

FIG. 3 shows that while plasma ACTH peaked at 30 to 60 minutes post-injection in both F344/N and LEW/N rats, the LEW/N plasma ACTH response to SCW, IL-1 alpha and quipazine was consistently lower than the F344/N response at al time points. Similarly, the LEW/N plasma corticosterone response was lower than the F344/N response at all time points. Total ACTH and corticosterone secreted over the entire time course in response to SCW, IL-1 alpha, or quipazine was significantly less in LEW/N rats than in F344/N rats (Table 2). In F344/N rats, compared to LEW/N rats, plasma ACTH increased more than 3 fold as much in response to IL-1 alpha; more than 2 fold as much in response to SCW, and more than 1.6 fold in response to quipazine. F344/N rats increased plasma corticosterone more than 2 fold in response to SCW and IL-1 alpha, and 1.4 fold in response to quipazine when compared to LEW/N rats.

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                         Total plasma ACTH and corticosterone secreted                                  over 4 hours in response to SCW, IL-1 alpha or quipazine in                    LEW/N versus F344/N rats.                                                      F344/N          LEW/N      n     p     *F/L                                    ______________________________________                                         Total ACTH (ng/ml × 240 min)                                             (mean ± S.E.M.)                                                             SCW      94.5 ± 4.7                                                                             40.3 ± 1.8                                                                             20  <0.001                                                                               2.3                                   IL-1     64.9 ± 5.4                                                                             20.4 ± 3.7                                                                             23  <0.001                                                                               3.2                                   Quipazine                                                                               95.5 ± 12.0                                                                            57.3 ± 5.5                                                                             20  <0.05 1.6                                   Total Corticosterone (g/ml × 240 min)                                    (mean ± S.E.M.)                                                             SCW     184.9 ± 3.9                                                                              70.3 ± 11.9                                                                           32  <0.001                                                                               2.6                                   IL-1    104.5 ± 3.7                                                                             38.9 ± 7.9                                                                             33  <0.001                                                                               2.7                                   Quipazine                                                                              119.6 ± 5.4                                                                             87.1 ± 4.4                                                                             20  <0.01 1.4                                   ______________________________________                                          *F/L = ratio of total ACTH or corticosterone secreted by F344/N (F) rats       versus LEW/N (L) rats.                                                         Data represent mean ± S.E.M. of total plasma ACTH and corticosterone        secreted by F344/N versus LEW/N rats in response to i.p. SCW (2 mg cell        wall rhamnose/rat), IL1 alpha (1 μg/rat), or quipazine (1 mg/rat). Dat      were derived, using the trapezoid rule, by calculation of the area under       time course curves shown in FIG. 3.                                      

Dose-Responses of Plasma ACTH and Corticosterone to SCW, IL-1 Alpha and Quipazine in LEW/N Versus F344/N Rats

FIG. 4 shows the plasma ACTH and corticosterone responses of LEW/N versus F344/N rats treated with varying doses of SCW, IL-1 alpha or quipazine. At all mediator doses tested, LEW/N rats had lower plasma ACTH and corticosterone levels than F344/N rats.

Plasma ACTH and Corticosterone Responses of LEW/N Versus F344/N Rats to Rat/Human CRH

LEW/N ACTH and corticosterone responses to various doses of i.p. rat/human CRH were lower than F344/N responses (FIG. 5). LEW/N Rats.

Pituitary weights, although not significantly different, were greater in F344/N compared to LEW/N rats (Table 3). F344/N adrenal gland weights were slightly but significantly greater than adrenal gland weights from age-matched LEW/N rats (p<0.01). LEW/N thymus weights were significantly higher than F344/N thymus weights (p<0.01), in age-matched rats.

                  TABLE 3                                                          ______________________________________                                         Pituitary, adrenal and thymus weights in age-                                  matched LEW/N and F344/N rats.                                                               Pituitary     Adrenal      Thymus                                              weight        weight       weight                                Strain (n)    (mg)     (n)  (mg)    (n)  (mg)                                  ______________________________________                                         F344/N (10)   9.6 ± 0.5                                                                            (27) 15.6 ± 0.5                                                                          (10) 260.0 ± 8.9                        LEW/N  (13)   8.5 ± 0.4                                                                            (26) 13.3 ± 0.7                                                                          (10) 307.3 ± 8.2                        P value       N.S.          <0.0         <0.01                                 ______________________________________                                    

Inhibition of SCW Arthritis by Dexamethasone Treatment of LEW/N Rats

Since corticosterone responses to SCW were clearly blunted in LEW/N rats, the effect of the corticosteroid, dexamethasone, on severity of arthritis in SCW treated LEW/N rats (Table 4) was evaluated. Five animals per group were injected i.p. with SCW (2 mg cell wall rhamnose/rat) on day 0, together with various doses of dexamethasone. Dexamethasone treatment was continued for 72 hours at doses ranging from the physiologic replacement range of 0.5 μg twice daily (b.i.d.) or 1 μg once daily (QD) to doses in the pharmacologic range, (10-100 μg QD). Not only did dexamethasone doses in the pharmacologic range totally suppress the arthritis induced by SCW, but doses in the physiologic range (1 μg QD or 0.5 μg b.i.d.) also significantly suppressed the severity of arthritis as determined by arthritis index (A.I.) compared to SCW plus saline treated controls (p<0.05).

                  TABLE 4                                                          ______________________________________                                         Dexamethasone suppression of SCW arthritis in                                  LEW/N rats (72 hrs).                                                           Dexamethasone                                                                               Incidence of                                                                              Severity of arthritis                                  dose (μg) arthritis  (mean A.I. + S.E.M.)                                   ______________________________________                                         0            5/5        8.3 ± 2.1                                           0.1 (b.i.d.) 5/5        8.4 ± 1.8                                           0.5 (b.i.d.) 4/5        3.4 ± 1.5*                                          1.0 (QD)     5/5        2.0 ± 0.5*                                          10.0         0/4        0*                                                     100.0        0/5        0*                                                     ______________________________________                                          *A.I. significantly less than A.I. of control animals (dexamethasone dose      0, saline only) (p < 0.05).                                                    LEW/N rats were injected with a single dose of SCW (2 mg cell wall             rhamnose/rat), followed by dexamthasone, at the doses indicated, or salin      controls. Dexamthasone injections were given once (QD) or twice (b.i.d.)       daily for a total of 72 hours, and severity of arthritis (A.I., articular      index) was quantitated at 72 hours postSCW injection by a single blinded       observer.                                                                

Effect of the Corticosterone Receptor Antagonist, RU 486, or the 5-HT₂ antagonist, LY53857, on F344/N Rats Treated with SCW

Table 5 shows the effect of treatment of F344/N rats with SCW plus the corticosterone receptor antagonist RU 486, or SCW plus the 5-HT₂ antagonist LY53857, compared to either agent alone. Five animals per group were injected i.p. with SCW (2 mg cell wall rhamnose per rat) on day 0. Various doses of RU 486 were injected i.p. simultaneously with SCW, and the RU 486 was readministered once daily for up to 72 hours post-SCW injection. LY53857 treatment was begun simultaneously with SCW and continued twice daily for 72 hours. Minimal mortality was observed in F344/N rats treated with SCW alone, and no mortality was observed in F344/N rats treated with RU 486 or LY53857 alone. Doses of RU 486 which had no effect alone (3 mg QD), were highly toxic when administered i.p. together with SCW, resulting in 100% mortality. Doses of RU 486 as low as 0.03 mg QD, when administered to SCW-treated rats, were still associated with significant inflammatory morbidity and mortality compared to controls. RU 486 has previously been shown to exacerbate carrageenin-induced inflammation, without significant mortality (33). Increased mortality in the SCW-arthritis model was probably related to the severe peritonitis which developed in association with the combined i.p. administration of the two agents. At doses of RU 486 low enough to permit survival, surviving rats developed acute arthritis, in some cases of moderate severity, e.g., mean A.I.=4.5 at 0.3 mg RU 486 dose. Concurrent treatment of F344/N rats with SCW and the 5-HT₂ antagonist LY53857 was not associated with significant mortality, but was associated with development of mild to moderate arthritis compared to control rats treated with either agent alone (p<0.05). Although not all dosing variables were explored, the data clearly show that blocking the effects of corticosterone or 5-HT in SCW treated F344/N rats results in severe or even fatal systemic inflammatory disease.

                  TABLE 5                                                          ______________________________________                                         Effects RU 486 or LY53857 on mortality and                                     arthritis in F344/N rats treated with SCW.                                                                        Severity of                                                         Incidence of                                                                              arthritis in                                                        arthritis in                                                                              surviving                                   Agent(s)                surviving  rats                                        injected       Mortality                                                                               rats       (A.I.)                                      ______________________________________                                         SCW + saline   2/15      1/13      0.2                                         saline + RU 486 3.0 mg                                                                        0/6      0/6        0                                           SCW + RU 486 0.03 mg                                                                          1/5*     2/4        0.5 ± 0.3                                SCW + RU 486 0.1 mg                                                                           2/5*     1/3        0.3 ± 0.3                                SCW + RU 486 0.3 mg                                                                           3/5*     1/2        4.5 ± 4.5**                              SCW + RU 486 1.0 mg                                                                           4/5*     0/1        0                                           SCW + RU 486 3.0 mg                                                                           5/5      --         --                                          saline + LY53857 0.3 mg                                                                       0/7      0/7        0                                           SCW + LY53857 0.03 mg                                                                         1/5      2/4        2 ± 1.2**                                SCW + LY53857 0.3 mg                                                                          0/5      2/5        2 ± 1.5                                  ______________________________________                                          *Surviving rats receiving RU 486 plus SCW showed ruffled fur and               peritoneal inflammation at necropsy.                                           **p < 0.05 compared to articular index (A.I.) of SCW plus saline treated       F344/N rats were treated with a single injection of SCW (2 mg cell wall        rhamnose/rat), followed by daily i.p. injections of RU 486, or twice dail      i.p. injections of LY53857, at doses indicated. Control animals were           treated with SCW plus saline, RU 486 plus saline, or LY53857 plus saline.      Articular index was quantitated by a blinded observer at 72 hours postSCW      injection. Maximum A.I. is 16.                                           

DISCUSSION

One of the earliest events that occurs in streptococcal cell wall injected LEW/N rats, and even in athymic nude LEW.rnu/rnu rats, is enhanced Ia expression on synovial endothelial cells. This develops concomitantly with the inflammatory process, and the intensity of expression parallels the severity of the arthritis. In marked contrast, insignificant enhancement of Ia antigen expression develops in SCW-injected euthymic and athymic F344 rats (1). Corticosteroids are both potent endogenous down-regulators of Ia expression and potent endogenous immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory agents (9-13). In the experiments reported here, it has been shown that acute corticosterone responses to SCW IL-1 alpha and quipazine are severely depressed in arthritis susceptible, high Ia-expressing LEW/N rats, compared to arthritis resistant low-Ia expressing F344/N rats. Outbred HSD rats, which exhibit an intermediate mean susceptibility to SCW induced arthritis with wide variability (2), also showed an intermediate mean and wide variability of corticosterone responses to these mediators. Furthermore, replacement of corticosterone with physiologic doses of dexamethasone significantly suppressed the severity of SCW arthritis in LEW/N rats. Conversely, antagonism of corticosterone in F344/N rats, with the corticosterone receptor antagonist RU 486, was associated with increased mortality, exacerbation of inflammation, and development of mild to moderate acute arthritis in this otherwise resistant strain. It is clear from these studies that, whether present on a genetic basis, as in LEW/N rats, or on a pharmacological basis, as in RU 486 treated F344/N. rats, a deficiency in the corticosterone response to SCW is associated with development of susceptibility to SCW-induced inflammatory disease.

Elevation of corticosterone during inflammation results from stimulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis by inflammatory and immune mediators, such as endotoxin (bacterial lipopolysaccharide, LPS) and interleukin-1 (IL-1) (14-23). Since SCW (peptidoglycan-group specific polysaccharide) are chemically related to endotoxin, and stimulate the release of IL-1 from activated macrophages (24), SCW could increase corticosterone via IL1 stimulation of the HPA axis. The studies presented here show that, in addition to depressed corticosterone responses to SCW, LEW/N rats have absent corticosterone responses to IL-1. Recent studies have shown that IL-1 stimulates the HPA axis at primarily the hypothalamic level by inducing CRH release (15-23). LEW/N rats have depressed ACTH responses which parallel the low corticosterone responses to SCW and IL-1, in contrast to F344/N rats which have higher ACTH and corticosterone responses. These initial findings suggest that the HPA axis defect in LEW/N rats is at either the hypothalamic and/or the pituitary level.

The smaller adrenal glands and the larger thymuses of LEW/N compared to F344/N rats, are also consistent with deficient HPA axis responses and chronic mild hyposecretion of corticosterone. LEW/N rats also have depressed ACTH and corticosterone responses to exogenous CRH. This could be secondary to inadequate priming of the anterior pituitary corticotroph by endogenous CRH or other ACTH secretagogues, or to some inherent defect of this cell. It is impossible from the data presented here to precisely define the site of the defect, whether hypothalamic or pituitary, particularly since chronic over- or understimulation of the HPA axis, from whatever cause, could result in secondary changes in baseline and stimulated levels of CRH, ACTH and corticosterone production, as well a secondary changes in adrenal and thymus sizes (13, 37). Further studies are required to determine the precise anatomical and molecular site of the lesion in LEW/N rats.

The observation that LEW/N rats are deficient in ACTH and corticosterone responses to the 5-HT agonist quipazine, as well as to IL-1 and SCW, suggests that the defect in these rats is not solely at the level of IL-1 stimulation of the HPA axis. The greater LEW/N corticosterone response to quipazine compared to IL-1 alpha may be related to the multiple pathways through which 5-HT and 5-HT agonists stimulate the HPA axis (31, 38-40), perhaps allowing quipazine to partially bypass the LEW/N defect in IL-1 --hypothalamic-pituitary pathways. This hypothesis is supported by existing data indicating that serotonin represents both a major CRH and a potent ACTH secretagogue (31, 41, 42). The importance of 5-HT pathways in intactness of the inflammatory mediator --HPA axis loop and arthritis resistance is also suggested by the association of arthritis with LY53857 treatment of SCW-injected rats.

The greater LEW/N corticosterone and ACTH response to SCW compared to IL-1 may also be related to stimulation of the HPA axis at multiple levels by the many inflammatory mediators released by SCW, including IL-1, interleukin-2 (IL-2), tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and 5-HT. Although 5-HT does not cross the blood brain barrier, 5-HT released during inflammation could hypothetically directly stimulate pituitary release of ACTH (31, 41, 42). The physiologic relevance of such a potential route of 5-HT stimulation of the HPA axis is, however, not clear, since it would be dependent on adequate systemic concentrations of 5-HT reaching central sites.

Taken together, the experiments reported here show that LEW/N rats represent a strain of rats genetically deficient in ACTH and corticosterone responses to several inflammatory or stress mediators, including SCW and IL-1, and 5-HT agonist, quipazine, and exogenous CRH. In contrast, F344/N rats represent a histocompatible, relatively SCW arthritis-resistant strain with intact, potent ACTH and corticosterone responses to the same inflammatory or stress mediators. Responses of HSD rats represent those of an outbred population, covering a wide range of both inflammatory mediator-HPA axis ACTH and corticosterone responses and SCW-arthritis susceptibility.

LEW/N and F344/N rats, therefore, represent a unique animal model for a genetically determined defect in the CNS --inflammatory/immune system feedback loop. Whether of hypothalamic or pituitary origin, this defect is associated with increased susceptibility to arthritis in response to SCW, and could also contribute to the increased susceptibility to other experimentally-induced inflammatory diseases observed in LEW/N rats (43-50). The data, coupled with the markedly enhanced inflammatory disease in SCW-injected F344/N rats following pharmacologic interruption of the HPA axis, and suppression of arthritis severity in SCW-injected LEW/N rats following replacement doses of dexamethasone, provide strong evidence that arthritis susceptibility in the LEW/N rat, and resistance in the F344/N rat is regulated, at least partially, through corticosterone production and HPA axis responsiveness to inflammatory and possibly other stress mediators.

The data may also have implications for susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis in humans. Rheumatoid arthritis is associated with a class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) epitope that is shared amongst several different haplotypes. Studies examining the contribution of class II MHC (Ia) type to rheumatoid arthritis susceptibility have suggested that MHC type and sequence are only partially responsible for susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (51). Another, as yet undefined factor, perhaps one controlling regulation of Ia expression, may therefore contribute to susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis. The data presented here are consistent with the concept that the additional factors regulating both Ia expression and susceptibility to arthritis are corticosteroids and responsiveness of the HPA axis to inflammatory and possibly other stress mediators. Several other lines of evidence support this concept. Rheumatoid patients are exquisitely sensitive to the disease-suppressing effects of low doses of corticosteroids; rheumatoid arthritis frequently remits during hypercortisolemic states, such as pregnancy, and exacerbates during hypocortisolemic states such as the post-partum period. These observations, coupled with our data, suggest that evaluation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis responsiveness to inflammatory and possibly other stress mediators, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, may provide new insights into the disease process.

Additional evidence indicates that susceptibility to streptococcal cell wall (SCW)-induced arthritis in the Lewis (LEW/N) rat, a model for human rheumatoid arthritis, is due, in part, to defective inflammatory and stress mediator-induced activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. To explore the mechanism of this defect, the functional integrity of the hypothalamic corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) neuron in LEW/N rats was examined and compared to histocompatible, arthritis-resistant F344/N rats. In response to SCW or recombinant interleukin-1 alpha (rIL-1 alpha), LEW/N rats showed profoundly deficient paraventricular nucleus CRH mRNA levels, hypothalamic CRH content and CRH release from explanted hypothalami in organ culture. These data provide strong evidence that the defective LEW/N ACTH and corticosterone responses to inflammatory and other stress mediators, and LEW/N susceptibility to experimental arthritis, are due in part to a hypothalamic defect in the synthesis and secretion of CRH. The additional finding of deficient expression in LEW/N rats of the hypothalamic enkephalin gene, which is coordinately regulated with the CRH gene in response to stress, suggests that the primary defect is not in the CRH gene, but is rather related to its inappropriate regulation.

In response to intraperitoneal injections of Group A streptococcal cell wall peptidoglycan-polysaccharide (SCW), inbred Lewis (LEW/N) female rats develop severe proliferative and erosive arthritis which mimics human rheumatoid arthritis. Histocompatible Fischer (F344/N) rats, on the other hand, do not develop arthritis in response to the same SCW stimulus (1-8). In light of recent postulated evidence that inflammatory mediator-activation of glucocorticoid secretion is one mechanism by which the immune response is appropriately regulated and restrained pituitary-adrenal responsiveness to SCW and other inflammatory stimuli in LEW/N and F344/N rats was previously explored (23, 52, 53). It was found that LEW/N rats have defective HPA axis responses to inflammatory and other stress mediators and that the response of F344/N rats to the same stimuli is intact, or above normal. Specifically, LEW/N rats, in contrast to F344/N rats, have markedly impaired plasma ACTH and corticosterone responses to intraperitoneally-injected SCW, to recombinant human interleukin-1 alpha (rIL-1 alpha), to the serotonin agonist, quipazine, and to synthetic rat/human corticotropin releasing hormine (CRH). In addition, LEW/N rats, compared to F344/N rats, have smaller adrenal glands and larger thymuses, consistent with chronic lack of stimulation by ACTH and corticosterone, respectively. Furthermore, arthritis and severe inflammation can be induced in otherwise SCW arthritis --resistant F344/N rats, by interruption of the HPA axis at its effector end-point, with the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, RU 486. Taken together, these data indicate that LEW/N rats' pituitary and adrenal hyporesponsiveness to inflammatory and other stress mediators is a major factor contributing to their susceptibility to SCW arthritis and other experimental inflammatory diseases (43-50).

Pituitary ACTH hyporesponsiveness to stimuli can be primary, or secondary to lack of hypothalamic stimulation (36). In order to determine whether the impaired ACTH and corticosterone responses of LEW/N rats were hypothalamic in origin, the ability of streptococcal cell walls (SCW) or rIL-1 alpha to affect in vivo hypothalamic CRH mRNA expression in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), in vivo hypothalamic CRH content, and in vitro hypothalamic CRH secretion in LEW/N and F344/N rats was compared. Results of these studies show that the LEW/N HPA axis defect involves the hypothalamus. In contrast to F344/N rats, neuronal synthesis and secretion of CRH within the PVN was markedly impaired.

The influence of inflammatory mediators on hypothalamic expression of CRH mRNA was quantitated by in situ hybridization with a CRH probe in PVN sections from F344/N and LEW/N rats injected intraperitoneally with either SCW or rIL-1 alpha. 80-100 gm virus antibody-free, F344/N and LEW/N female rats (Harlan Sprague Dawley, Indianapolis, Ind.) were injected intraperitoneally with SCW (2 mg cell-wall rhamnose per 100 gm rat), or recombinant interleukin-1 alpha (rIL-1 alpha, 1 μgm/100 gm rat). Recombinant IL-1 alpha was a kind gift from Drs. P. Kilian and P. Lomedico, Hoffman-LaRoche, Nutley, N. J. Blood was immediately collected and used to determine plasma corticosterone and ACTH levels (35, 36). The brains were removed, and 4 mm coronal slices containing the PVN were frozen and stored at -80° C. until 12 μm frozen sections were cut and thaw-mounted onto twice gelatin-coated slides. They were then processed for in situ hybridization with CRH or enkephalin probes and analyzed as previously described (54, 55, 56). The hybridizations were performed at 37° C. for 20-24 hours in 600 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.5), 50% formamide, 4 mM EDTA, 0.1% sodium pyrophosphate, 0.2% SDS, 0.2 mg/ml heparin sulfate, and 10% dextran sulfate. The probes had specific activities of 10-15,000 Ci/mmol. Between 4 to 7 hours after injection of SCW, CRH mRNA levels increased significantly in F344/N PVN, but did not increase in LEW/N PVN (FIG. 6A). This lack of a CRH biosynthetic response to SCW in LEW/N rats could be secondary to a defect in the CRH gene or in steps leading to its activation. Coordinate regulation of the CRH and enkephalin genes in the PVN after application of two different stresses has been previously described (57, 58). In order to determine whether induction of the enkephalin gene by SCW was also defective in LEW/N rats, adjacent sections from the animals treated with SCW were examined for enkephalin expression by in situ hybridization. The response was much greater in the F344/N PVN than in the LEW/N PVN (FIG. 6B). These results suggest that a common pathway that activates the CRH and enkephalin genes in the PVN in F344/N and other normal rats (57, 58) is defective in LEW/N rats.

Bacterial endotoxin, lipopolysaccharide, (components of SCW) and IL-1 stimulate the HPA axis (14-22, 59). Since SCW induce IL-1 release (24), IL-1 is one probable mediator of SCW HPA axis stimulation. Indeed, rIL-1 alpha did induce significant (p <0.01) increases in plasma corticosterone and ACTH in F344/N rats, compared to LEW/N rats (F344/N ACTH=480 pg/ml, LEW/N ACTH=70 pg/ml; F344/N corticosterone=488 ng/ml, LEW/N corticosterone=78 ng/ml, at one hour post-injection) (See preceding discussion). A similar single intraperitoneal injection of rIL-1 alpha (1 microgram per rat) however, did not significantly increase CRH mRNA or enkephalin mRNA in the PVN over baseline in either strain (FIG. 6C and 6D). This discrepancy between the ability of rIL-1 alpha to augment plasma ACTH and corticosterone, and its inability to augment CRH mRNA levels in the PVN in F344/N rats, suggests that rIL-1 alpha, at the dose used, stimulates secretion, but not transcription of CRH. Alternatively, any increase in transcript levels induced by rIL-1 alpha may be below the level of sensitivity of the in situ hybridization assay. The increase of CRH mRNA levels induced by SCW, in contrast to the lack of CRH mRNA response to rIL-1 alpha, could be related to two mechanisms; the more sustained nature of the SCW stimulus compared to rIL-1 alpha, or the multiple factors released by SCW, which could stimulate the CRH neuron via multiple pathways.

Total hypothalamic CRH content reflects the balance between CRH synthesis and secretion. Four hours after intraperitoneal injection of LEW/N or F344/N rats with SCW (2mg cell wall rhamnose per rat), recombinant IL-1 alpha (1 μgm per rat), or phosphate buffered saline (PBS, sterile, endotoxin free, GIBCO, Grand Island, N.Y.), rats were decapitated, and hypothalami were rapidly removed, quick-frozen on dry ice and extracted. Total immunoreactive CRH (iCRH) was quantitated by radioimmunoassay, as previously described (60). Hypothalamic immunoreactive CRH (iCRH) content, measured 4 hours after intraperitoneal injection of SCW, rIL-1 alpha, or phosphate buffered saline (PBS) is shown in FIG. 7. In F344/N rats, hypothalamic content of iCRH increased more than two fold over controls in response to either intraperitoneal SCW or rIL-1 alpha. iCRH content in PBS-injected and untreated animals was not significantly different. In contrast, iCRH content did not change in LEW/N rats injected with PBS, SCW or rIL-1 alpha, compared to untreated LEW/N rats. The lack of change in hypothalamic iCRH content of LEW/N rats in response to in vivo administration of SCW or rIL-1 alpha is consistent with the LEW/N rats' defective response of CRH mRNA to these mediators. The SCW-induced increase in hypothalamic iCRH in F344/N rats is consistent with their ability to increase CRH mRNA levels in response to SCW. rIL-1 alpha's capacity to increase hypothalamic iCRH content in F344/N rats, but not CRH mRNA levels in the PVN of these rats, suggests that IL-1 alpha may increase the rate or efficiency of CRH mRNA translation and/or post-translational processing without causing detectable increases in CRH transcript levels.

In order to determine whether IL-1 stimulation of CRH secretion is also defective in LEW/N rats, the ability of rIL-1 alpha to induce iCRH release in vitro from LEW/N versus F344/N hypothalamic explants was compared. Hypothalamic explants, obtained from untreated age-matched F344/N or LEW/N rats, were cultured in the presence of various concentrations of rIL-1 alpha and release of iCRH into the culture supernate was quantitated by radioimmunoassay. Hypothalamic explants were rapidly removed from untreated rats, as previously described (61, 62). The explants were incubated overnight at 37° C., 5% CO₂, in medium 199, (M199, GIBCO, Grand Island, N.Y.), with 0.1% bovine serum albumin (BSA, grade V, Sigma Chemicals, St. Louis, Mo.). The hypothalami, in 48 well tissue culture plates, were then serially transferred every 20 minutes through a series of six wells containing one of the following additives, in order: control M199 (3 wells, total 60 minutes); M199 plus recombinant IL-1 alpha (10⁻¹³ M to 10⁻⁶ M; 2 wells, total 40 minutes); or 60 mM potassium chloride (1 well, 20 minutes). Immunoreactive CRH (iCRH) was assayed directly in the media, by a sensitive radioimmunoassay, as previously described (63). Only results from viable hypothalami, represented by those with a ≧90% iCRH response to 60 mM KCl over basal values, were included in the analyses. FIG. 8 shows that rIL-1 alpha (10⁻¹³ M to 10⁻⁶ M) induced a 150% increase in iCRH secretion over baseline from F344/N hypothalami, and no increase in iCRH secretion over baseline from LEW/N hypothalami.

As discussed previously, the LEW/N rats' defective ACTH and corticosterone responsiveness to inflammatory and other stress mediators is one critical factor in their susceptibility to SCW-induced arthritis. Our current findings suggest that the deficient LEW/N ACTH and corticosterone responses and associated susceptibility to arthritis are related to a lack of hypothalamic synthesis and secretion of CRH, and perhaps other stress hormones, in response to inflammatory and other stress mediators. The coordinate defect in LEW/N enkephalin mRNA synthesis in response to SCW provides evidence that the LEW/N rats' CRH biosynthetic defect is not specific to the CRH gene, but may result from a defect in its regulation. The present findings suggest a unique model for a mammalian autoimmune disease, in which a central nervous system defect results in an illness characterized by inadequate immune/inflammatory counter-regulation. Such a mechanism may also be relevant to human illnesses such as rheumatoid arthritis. Arginine Vasopressin Stimulation Test:

There are currently two methods available to test the integrity of HPA axis responses in humans: the CRH stimulation test, and the arginine vasopressin (AVP) stimulation test (Meller, W. H. et al., J. of Psychiatric Research, 21, No. 3, 269-177 (1987)). Further details of this test can be found in NIH Clinical Project No. 87-M-85a which is hereby incorporated herein be reference. Both of these methods have been developed at the NIH Clinical Center, and have been extensively studied in diseases such as depression and Cushings' syndrome. The CRH stimulation test determines sensitivity of ACTH and cortisol responses to exogenous CHR, and therefore tests the integrity of pituitary corticotroph cells' reponses to stress. Since defective pituitary responsiveness to stress could be primary, or could be secondary to long-term hypothalamic defects as well, the CRH test also indirectly tests the integrity of hypothalamic responses to stress. A more direct measure of the integrity of hypothalamic CRH responses to stress is the AVP stimulation test. AVP synergizes with CRH in stimulating ACTH release. Decreased endogenous CRH would therefore result in decreased ACTH and cortisol secretion in response to exogenous AVP. Maximal ACTH and cortisol responses to AVP stimulation occur at 9 a.m., when CRH should be at its peak. Maximal ACTH and cortisol responses to CRH stimulation occur when CRH is at its nadir, at 4 p.m. An intravenous infusion of arginine vasoporessin of 1.0 mIU/kg/min administered over a one hour period between 9:00 and 10:00 a.m. has been shown to have minimal side effects, and to maximally synergize with endogenous CRH in stimulating ACTH release. However, the infusion could be given at 8 p.m. to 9 p.m., depending on results of preliminary testing.

AVP Stimulating Test

Arginine vasopressin will be administered by an intravenous infusion of 1.0 mIU/kg/min of arginine vasopressin over a one hour period between 9:00 and 10:00 a.m. The infusions will be by means of a digitally controlled Extracorporeal Constant Infusion Pump, Model 2100. If any given dosage side effects such as nausea or gastrointestinal cramping occur, the infusion will be stopped immediately. Upon cessation of side effects, the infusion may again commence at a dose established to be free of side effects for a given individual. Side effects should be rare even at the maximal doses proposed for this study. In addition to the standard intracath placed for infusion of arginine vasopressin, blood will be drawn through a scalp vein needle in the contralateral arm, every 15 minutes before, during, and for two hours after the infusion. Eight cc's will be taken for every sample, and a total of 104 cc's will be taken for each infusion. Blood will be assayed for ACTH and cortisol, and in some cases also for other hormones such as beta-endorphin, growth hormone, prolactin and oxytocin.

Synthetic arginine vasopressin will be obtained from the Parke-Davis Company. Parke-Davis markets a highly purified synthetic peptide with a sequence of naturally occurring arginine vasopressin and the commercial designation Aqueous Pitressin.

Treatment with Mespirenone

In preliminary testing in Lewis (LEW/N) rats, the inventors have found that chronic treatment of these rats with the mineralocorticoid (Type I glucocorticoid receptor) antagonist, mespirenone, (INN prop. for 7α-Acetylthio-15β, 16β-methylen-3-oxo-17α-pregna-1,4-dien-21,17-carbolactone) significantly suppressed their inflammatory response to carrageenan, as determined by total leukocytes and leukocytes/cc present in subcutaneous carrageenan pouches (see FIGS. 9A and 9B). The drug was administered in emulphor vehicle subcutaneously, at 3 mg/Kg, for 8 weeks. The inflammatory response to carrageenan in mespirenone treated rats was 50% less than in vehicle-treated control LEW/N rats (p<0.05). At the same time, hypothalamic CRH mRNA tended to increase in mespirenone-treated rats compared to saline-treated controls (FIG. 10), consistent with the hypothesis that normalization of CRH responses is associated with suppression of inflammatory responses. The lack of increase in CRH mRNA in mespirenone-treated, carrageenan exposed animals, compared to non-mespirenone-treated, carrageenan exposed animals, probably reflected the lower inflammation, in the drug-treated animals. Also consistent with the hypothesis that modification of CRH responses alters inflammatory responses, is the finding that relatively inflammatory disease resistant Fischer (F344/N) rats exhibited significantly lower volumes of carrageenan exudates than LEW/N rats, consistent with the previous findings that they also exhibit significantly less inflammatory responses to streptococcal cell walls and other arthritogenic stimuli. Nonetheless, the small F344/N inflammatory response to carrageenan was also inhibited by mespirenone by 50%, although due to small numbers of animals and small exudates, this value did not reach significance.

These data indicate that pharmacologic interruption of the major inhibitory pathway of CRH regulation, glucocorticoid negative control via an antagonist to the Type 1 mineralocorticoid receptor, is associated with suppression of the inflammatory response in these otherwise highly inflammatory disease susceptible rats.

Treatment with Tamoxifen

A previously healthy 69 year old female was diagnosed to have full blown acute onset rheumatoid arthritis, after a two month course of fever, night sweats (sometimes accompanied by chills), transient petechial maculopapular rashes, migrating polyarthralgias and arthritis in the small and large joints, including proximal interphalangeal joints (PIPs), metacarpal and metatarsalphalangeal joints (MCPs and MTPs), knees, wrists, elbows, shoulders and neck. One month prior to the onset of fever, the patient's initial symptoms had consisted of bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, diagnosed on history and clinical exam, and confirmed by nerve conduction studies. Also, the patient had had a similar episode of fevers and sweats 3 1/2 years before, accompanied by a non-malignant axillary lymph node, described as reactive on excisional biopsy. No cause was ever identified for the episode, and it resolved spontaneously with no pharmacologic intervention post-excisional biopsy. Laboratory studies during the current episode revealed a newly positive serum rheumatoid factor (R.F.), elevated sedimentation rate (50 mm/Hr) and negative ANA and anti-DNA. Serum protein electrophoresis and C3 were normal. Chest x ray showed mild hilar adenopathy and mild pleural effusions, with no parenchymal disease and no evidence of lymphangitic infiltration on C.T. scan. Anergy screen was normal, ppd was negative, and angiotensin converting enzyme was normal. A tentative diagnosis of adult Still's disease was made, but allergic or serum sickness reaction, to non-steriodal anti-inflammatory agents used to treat the initial carpal tunnel syndrome, could not be ruled out.

In the course of the investigation of the fever of unknown origin and hilar adenopathy, the patient was found to have a mass in the left breast, with characteristic features of malignancy on physical examination and by mammography. On excisional biopsy, two primary ductal carcinomas, 2.1 cm and under 2.0 cm, were found, with margins clear of tumor. Both tumors were strongly positive for estrogen and progesterone receptors. Metastatic work-up was negative, with negative bone scan, normal abdominal ultrasound, normal C.T. scan of the head and abdomen. The breast cancer was classed as stage 2, on the basis of size of tumors and lack of metastatic spread. In light of the age of the patient and the severe and worsening systemic symptoms of the rheumatoid arthritis, further staging surgery and chemotherapy were deferred, and the patient elected to be treated with a regimen of tamoxifen (20 mg/day) and local radiation to the breast.

Prior to local excisional surgery, the arthritis symptoms continued to worsen, with increasing severity and duration of pain and swelling in the involved joints, and increasing numbers of joints simultaneously involved. In addition, although the fevers evolved from high spiking fevers to low grade more chronic fever, the systemic symptoms worsened, with day long stiffness, weakness, malaise, to the point that the week prior to surgery the patient was bedridden most of the day and unable to turn in bed, get out of bed, or walk, without assistance. All medication was withheld prior to surgery, except for acetominophen prn, because allergy to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication could not be ruled out as a possible cause of the spiking fevers. Physical examination immediately post-operatively revealed synovitis of both wrists, 5th left PIP, right 1st MTP, and a marked (3+) effusion of the left knee. Both shoulders were painful on movement. Aspiration of the left knee revealed 25 mls of cloudy fluid, positive for rheumatoid factor and negative on routine culture. At that time, a definite diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis was made, and prednisone 20 mg QD was begun 5 days later.

The symptoms partially improved, but remained marked after two weeks of prednisone 20 mg/day ×4 days, tapering to 15 mg/day for the remainder of time. At that time, tamoxifen was begun, for treatment of the breast cancer. After 2 days of tamoxifen, and continued tapering of prednisone to 10 mg/day, the patient noted a dramatic improvement in symptoms, with decreased pain and swelling, and increased range of motion (ROM) in the shoulders, wrists, PIPs and MCPs and neck, but presistent effusion in the left knee. The systemic symptoms also improved, with general increased mobility, decreased duration of stiffness to less than 30 minutes, and resolution of fever. The symptoms continued to improve and physical examination after two weeks of tamoxifen and 10 mg/day prednisone treatment revealed full ROM in the left shoulder, 90% ROM in the right shoulder, slight swelling of the right wrist, minor swelling of the left 5th PIP, but persistent warmth, swelling, tenderness and effusion of the left knee. At that time, 1 cc methylprednisolone was instilled into the left knee, and tamoxifen 20 mg/day and prednisone 10 mg/day were continued. Radiation therapy to the left breast was begun 6 days later, and a full 5 week course carried out. Two months after initiating treatment, the patients remains largely free of joint symptoms on the current therapy, with occasional fleeting arthralgias in the shoulder and knee, 0 to less than 20 minutes morning stiffness, no fevers or rashes, and feels generally well, subjectively 80% improved overall.

Animal Studies

In preliminary testing in Lewis (LEW/N) rats, the inventors have found that chronic treatment of these rats with the estrogen receptor antagonist, tamoxifen, significantly suppressed their inflammatory response to carrageenan, as determined by leukocytes/cc, total leukocytes and total volume of exudate present in subcutaneous carrageenan pouches (see FIGS. 11A-11C attached). The drug was administered in emulphor vehicle subcutaneously, at 1 mg/Kg, for 3 weeks. The inflammatory response to carrageenan in tamoxifen treated was 75%-80% less than in vehicle-treated control LEW/N rats (p<0.002).

These data indicate that the pharmacological treatment with the estrogen antagonist tamoxifen alone or in combination with the Type II glucocorticoid agonist prednisone significantly suppresses inflammatory responses and/or arthritis.

Synovial Receptor Binding

In order to determine which combination of agents would be most effective in a given patient, synovial tissue should be biopsied, and estrogen, progesterone, glucocorticoid Type 1 and glucocorticoid Type 2 receptor binding number and affinity will be determined by standard receptor binding techniques (65, 66).

Kits

The components for use by the means described herein can be assembled in kits for use in accord with the teachings of the application. Such kits may contain the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis stimulating drug, tracers such as I¹²⁵ or an ELISA tracer, reagents specific for use in the assay chosen, antibodies to HPA axis hormone, and, for use as controls, standardized plasma. Any of the HPA axis hormones such as GABA agonists/antagonists, MAO inhibitors, Dopamine uptake inhibitors/releasers, Cholinergic agents, serotonin agonists/releasers/uptake inhibitors, adrenergic agonists/antagonists/uptake inhibitors, neurohormones, Type 1 mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, estrogen antagonists, progesterone agonists, named at pages 5-6 are appropriate for use in kits in accord with the teachings of this disclosure. 1-metachloro-phenyl-piperazine (mCPP) is a particularly preferred stimulant.

Diseases of the Stress Response II Atypical Depression

Overview: In contrast to the intense hyperarousal characteristic of melancholic depression, the syndrome of atypical depression seems to represent an excessive counter-regulation of the generalized stress response (68). The facilitation of pathways subserving arousal and attention in melancholic depression is replaced with apathy, lethargy, and passivity in atypical depression. Similarly, the inhibition of pathways subserving vegetative functions in melancholia contrasts with the hyperphagia and hypersomnia that are among the defining characteristics of atypical depression. This syndrome is not only frequently diagnosed as a primary psychiatric (depressive) illness, but also commonly occurs across the boundaries of a variety of medical illnesses including Cushing's disease, (75) the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (78), hypothyroidism (77), and seasonal affective disorder (76).

EXAMPLES OF ATYPICAL DEPRESSION INCLUDE Cushing's Disease

Several lines of data in preoperative and post-operative Cushing's disease patents indicate that the CRH neuron has been suppressed by longstanding hypercortisolism that derives from a peripheral (pituitary) abnormality. These data include responses to CRH (71, 79), the effects of priming on the corticotroph cell In post-operative patients (79), and measurements of CSF CRH (75).

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

The chronic fatigue syndrome is defined by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) as an illness consisting of profound debilitating fatigue lasting six months or longer in the absence of any clearly definable systemic illness, and often associated with feverishness, myalgias, arthralgias, and high titers to a variety of viral antigens (78). In a study of 30 patients meeting CDC criteria for the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) followed longitudinally for over one year at the NIH Clinical Center, it has been shown that the lethargy and fatigue in patients with the CFS occur in the context of a hypofunctioning CRH neuron (78). Hence, it has been shown that despite a significant reduction in evening basal total and free cortisol levels and in 24-hour urinary free cortisol excretion, patients with the CFS showed blunted ACTH responses to ovine CRH. It has also been shown that patients with the CFS showed exaggerated cortisol responses to low doses of ACTH and blunted cortisol responses to high-dose ACTH administration. These data suggest that in the context of a subtle central adrenal insufficiency, adrenocortical ACTH receptors have grown hyperresponsive to ACTH, but that because of an atrophy of the adrenal cortex due to a central CRH deficiency, the adrenocortical response to high doses of ACTH is attenuated. This pattern of response has previously been seen in patients receiving alternate day glucocorticoid treatment and known to have a partial central adrenal insufficiency on this account.

The symptomatology of the CFS could not only be facilitated by a CRH deficiency, but also by hypocortisolism per se. Hence, hypocortisolism is not only classically associated with fatigue, but also with feverishness, myalgias, and arthraigias. Moreover, in the light of the data advanced regarding the role of endogenous HPA function on Immune functions (80, 81), hypocortisolism could also be associated with a generalized increase in immunologic function, including increased titers to a variety of viral antigens.

Seasonal Affective Disorder

Patients with seasonal affective disorder present with depressions characterized by hyperphagia and hypersomnia. It has been demonstrated that a significant attenuation and delay in the ACTH response is due to ovine CRH. This delayed pattern is analogous, in part, to what was described in patients with central adrenal insufficiency secondary to trauma or tumor, and, in part, to data in patients with Cushing's disease studied after transsphenoidal hypophysectomy with post-operative adrenal insufficiency (76).

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism, is often associated with symptoms of atypical depression. It has been demonstrated that patients with hypothyroidism show responses to ovine CRH compatible with central adrenal insufficiency that consist of exaggerated, delayed ACTH responses to CRH, in association with a decreased cortisol response to the ACTH released during the course of the CRH stimulation test.

An Animal Model for the Effects of Experimentally-Induced Hypothyroidism on the Functional Integrity of the HPA Axis in the Rat

In hypothyroid rats, a variety of in vivo and in vitro techniques to demonstrate the presence of a central, CRH-mediated adrenal insufficiency have been utilized. In vitro studies show that hypothyroid rats show a decrease in PVN CRH RNA and content, and a decrease in KCl-induced CRH release form hypothalamic organ culture. A concomitant decrease in the number of hippocampal glucocorticoid receptors has been demonstrated. Studies in pituitary cell culture show a decrease in POMC RNA and ACTH content, an increase in CRH receptors, and an increased ACTH response of dispersed pituicytes to CRH. Adrenal weights were significantly decreased and there was a subnormal corticosterone response to ACTH by cultured adrenal cells. Corroborating in vivo studies in hypothyroid rats show a significant decrease in CSF and plasma free cortisol concentrations and several findings compatible with central adrenal insufficiency. These include an attenuated response to the central CRH stimulus IL-1, an exaggerated ACTH response to CRH in accordance with an increase in CRH receptors and decreased glucocorticoid negative feedback, and decreased responsiveness of the adrenal cortex to ACTH.

Animal Models of Melancholic and Atypical Depression in Histocompatible Lewis (LEW/N) and Fisher (F344/N) Rats

It has been previously shown that susceptibility to inflammatory in the LEW/N rat reflects hypoactivity of the hypothalamic CRH neuron to a variety of stimuli, including not only inflammatory mediators but environmental stimuli as well (80, 81). Hence, in response to inflammatory triggers, LEW/N rats fail to recruit the central nervous system CRH neuron to activate pituitary-adrenal function, and hence, glucocorticoid mediated counter-regulation of the immune response. It has also been demonstrated that histocompatible F344/N rats show resistance to inflammatory disease based on a hyperresponsiveness of their CRH neuron and pituitary-adrenal axis to inflammatory mediators. In the light of data that the central administration of CRH to experimental animals produces many changes that promote successful adaptation during threatening situations (e.g. not only pituitary-adrenal activation, but also activation of the sympathetic nervous system, enhancement of arousal, alertness, anxiety, inhibition of growth, feeding, and reproduction), the inventors also explored whether the relative hypo-and hyper-active of the CRH neurons in LEW/N and F344/N rats was associated not only with differences in susceptibility to inflammatory disease, but differences in behavior as well. Data shows that CRH deficient LEW/N rats behave like outbred rats given CRH antagonists. They fail to respond appropriately to stressful stimuli with reduced exploration, and anxiety and they are lethargic in the face of threatening situations. Conversely, F344/N rats respond like outbred rats given CRH, and show enhanced arousal, decreased exploration, and hyperactivity. In this regard, the CRH deficiency of the LEW/N rat is associated with a behavioral state analogous to the lethargy and fatigue seen in illnesses characterized by atypical depression. Conversely, the CRH hypersecretion in the F344/N rats is associated with behavioral arousal analogous to that seen in melancholic depression. Data shows that type I glucocorticoid receptor antagonists such as mespirinone are capable of significantly elevating CRH content in the hypothalamus (see FIG. 10) suggests that drugs like this which were predicted to enhance CRH synthesis could be useful in the treatment of atypical depression syndromes, whether occuring de novo or in association with illnesses such as chronic fatigue syndrome or rheumatoid arthritis. In this regard, inflammatory illnesses like rheumatoid arthritis are known to be associated with a disproportionately high incidence of atypical depressive features.

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What is claimed is:
 1. A method for testing the susceptibility of a mammal to inflammatory diseases which comprises the steps of:administering to a mammal a compound selected from the group consisting of Type 1 mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, opiate antagonists, estrogen antagonists or mixed estrogen agonists/antagonists, progesterone agonists; or a combination of an estrogen antagonist with one or a combination of a Type I glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, a Type II glucocorticoid agonist or a progesterone agonist which is effective in stimulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis; and measuring the level of at least one hormone secreted by the hypothalamus, pituitary or adrenal glands of said mammal.
 2. The method of claim 1, which comprises the steps of administering to a mammal a compound selected from the group consisting of Type 1 mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, opiate antagonists, estrogen antagonists or mixed estrogen agonists/antagonists, progesterone agonists; or a combination of an estrogen antagonist with one or a combination of a Type I glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, a Type II glucocorticoid agonist or a progesterone agonist, and measuring the level of glucocorticoids or adrenocorticotropic hormone or corticotropic releasing hormone (CRH) in said mammal.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said inflammatory disease is arthritis, uveoretinitis,pneumonitis, encephalomyelitis, multiple sclerosis or hepatic granulomatas.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said compound is mespirenone or tamoxifen; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and said hormone is cortisol, corticosterone, adrenocorticotropic hormone or corticotropic releasing hormone (CRH).
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the level of said hormones secreted by the hypothalamus, pituitary or adrenal glands are measured 10 minutes to 4 hours after administration of said compound.
 6. A method for testing the susceptibility of a mammal to arthritis which comprises the steps of:administering to a mammal an amount of mespirenone or tamoxifen effective to stimulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis; and measuring the level of CRH adrenocorticotropic hormone or corticosterone in the plasma of said mammal between 10 minutes and 4 hours after administration of said mespirenone or tamoxifen.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein said mammal is a laboratory animal.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein said mammal is a human.
 9. A method for treatment of inflammatory diseases which comprises the step of:administering to a patient suffering from an inflammatory disease, a compound which stimulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis which is selected from the group consisting of Type 1 mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, estrogen antagonists, or mixed estrogen agonists/antagonists, progesterone agonists; or a combination of an estrogen antagonist with one or a combination of a Type I glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, a Type II glucocorticoid agonist or a progesterone agonist.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein said compound is administered to a patient suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.
 11. A kit comprising:(a) a HPA axis stimulating agent selected from the group consisting of Type 1 mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, opiate antagonists, estrogen antagonists, mixed estrogen agonists/antagonists, progesterone agonists; or a combination of an estrogen antagonist with one or a combination of a Type I glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, a Type II glucocorticoid agonist or a progesterone agonist, and measuring the level of glucocorticoids, adrenocorticotropic hormone or CRH; and (b) reagents for measuring a HPA axis hormone response.
 12. The kit of claim 11 further comprising a tracer.
 13. The kit of claim 11, further comprising antibodies to the HPA axis hormone.
 14. The kit of claim 11, wherein said reagents for measuring the HPA axis hormone response comprise reagents for an ELISA test.
 15. The kit of claim 14 further comprising an ELISA tracer.
 16. The kit of claim 13, further comprising a standardized plasma as a control.
 17. The kit of claim 12, wherein said tracer is I¹²⁵.
 18. The method of claim 9, wherein said compound is mespirenone.
 19. The method of claim 2, wherein said compound is an opiate antagonist selected from the group consisting of naloxone and naltrexone.
 20. The method of claim 2, wherein said compound is an estrogen antagonist selected from the group consisting of tamoxifen and triphenylethylene derivatives of tamoxifen, phyto-estrogens and progesterone agonists.
 21. The method of claim 2, wherein said glucocorticoid is selected from the group consisting of cortisol and corticosterone.
 22. The method of claim 2, wherein said measuring of glucocorticoids, adrenocorticotropic hormone or CRH is in blood plasma.
 23. The method of claim 2, wherein said inflammatory disease is arthritis.
 24. The method of claim 9, wherein said compound is a mineralacorticoid receptor antagonist selected from the group consisting of Type 1 mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, estrogen antagonists, mixed estrogen agonists/antagonists, progesterone agonists; or a combination of an estrogen antagonist with one or a combination of a Type I glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, a Type II glucocorticoid agonist or a progesterone agonist.
 25. The method of claim 9, wherein said compound is an estrogen antagonist or mixed estrogen agonist/antagonist is selected from the group consisting of tamoxifen and triphenylethylene derivatives of tamoxifen, phyto-estrogens and progesterone agonists.
 26. The kit of claim 11, wherein said stimulating agent is an opiate antagonist selected from the group consisting of naloxone and naltrexone.
 27. The kit of claim 11, wherein said stimulating agent is an estrogen antagonist or mixed estrogen agonist/antagonist is selected from the group consisting of tamoxifen and triphenylethylene derivatives of tamoxifen, phyto-estrogens and progesterone agonists. 